Manchester City 3-0 Arsenal – Goals from Raheem Sterling, a penalty from Kevin De Bruyne, and a late goal from Phil Foden gave Manchester City an easy win over 10 menArsenal after David Luiz has a nightmare coming off the bench for the Gunners whilst Mikel Arteta suffered a disappointing return to the Etihad Stadium.
First half:
Both sets of players and the officials followed on from the Aston Villa vs Sheffield United match by taking a knee just after the first whistle blew in a powerful message towards racism.
It was the hosts Manchester City who had the first dangerous attempt of the game in the opening couple of minutes when Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne saw his free kick tipped over the crossbar by Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno.
Arsenal had to make two changes in the opening 20 minutes of the game when midfielder Granit Xhaka and defender Pablo Mari both being forced off with injuries which through a spanner in Mikel Arteta’s game plan on his return to the Etihad.
Bernd Leno continued to be the Gunners hero in the first half pulling off fine saves from Raheem Sterling, David Silva, and Riyad Marhez to keep the score at 0-0.
Manchester City finally got the breakthrough just before half time when substitute David Luiz’s error allowed Raheem Sterling to volley home his first goal of 2020 and the first goal since the return of the Premier League.
Second half:
Not even 5 minutes in to the second half and Manchester City were awarded a penalty when David Luiz bought down Riyad Marhez inside the box and to add insult to injury for the Gunners the Brazilian was sent off for being last man reducing Arsenal to ten men.
Kevin De Bruyne stepped up from the spot and sent Bernd Leno the wrong way to put the hosts 2-0 up and give them daylight between them and the Gunners as De Bruyne scored his third goal against Arsenal this season.
There was an unfortunate incident towards the end of the game when Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson clattered in to his own defender which happened to be surprise selection 19 year old Eric Garcia who had to be stretchered off with oxygen.
Manchester City cruised to victory from here on in and added a third goal at the end after substitute Sergio Aguero saw his shot saved on to the post from Bernd Leno which was then followed up by 20 year old Phil Foden who scored his first Premier League goal in over a year to cap off a fine evening for Manchester City.
Full time
Man of the match:
Raheem Sterling – The winger looked lively all game and determined all day to break his 2020 goal duck and that is exactly what he did at the end of the first half a goal which merited his performance.
Fascinating facts:
Manchester City have now done a league double over Arsenal for three consecutive seasons with an overall 17-2 aggregate score line.
Raheem Sterling has now scored six career goals against Arsenal which have all came in victories.
Both of Phil Foden’s Premier League career goals have come against North London clubs in Tottenham and Arsenal and both in home wins.
David Luiz red card means that this is the third time that an Arsenal player has been sent off in five away Premier League games under Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal have now had a player sent off in four different Premier League games this season which is more than any other Premier League club.
Arsenal now haven’t won away at any of the other traditional top 6 sides in 26 attempts with their last victory being 0-2 away at Manchester City back in January 2015.
Talking points:
Bernd Leno great performance despite conceding 3 goals – Bernd Leno has been an underrated goalkeeper for a while now between the sticks for Arsenal and this performance shows why, a great showing in goal denying Manchester City on many occasions, the German deserves a better defence.
Raheem Sterling finally breaks his goal drought – Raheem Sterling had not scored a Premier League goal since December when he scored two in a 3-2 defeat to Wolves, in fact he hadn’t scored at the Etihad since October in a 3-0 win against Villa but successfully broke his goal drought against the Gunners.
Man City make sure Liverpool can’t win the League away at Everton in the Merseyside derby on Sunday – If Manchester City had lost to Arsenal then that would have meant Liverpool could have won the derby away at local rivals Everton Sunday evening but that now cannot happen and Liverpool will have to beat Everton and Crystal Palace to have the title wrapped up next week.
David Luiz horror show means he might have played his last game for Arsenal – David Luiz who was subbed on for the injured Pablo Mari in the 20th minute was at fault for the first goal and then gave away a penalty and was sent off for the second and with his contract running out soon there is a good chance the Brazilian has played his last match for the Gunners.
Will Phil Foden be given more game time? We have known about Manchester City playmaker Phil Foden’s talent for a while now but the lack of game time always seems to hinder the 20 year olds potential but with the Premier League title nearly out of Manchester City’s reach is it time for Foden to play more games and possibly replace David Silva in the coming seasons?
Arsenal just cannot beat a rival top 6 side away – January 18th2015 was the last time Arsenal won away at a top 6 rival which was Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, 26 attempts which includes 10 draw, 16 defeats, 28 scored, 59 conceded, and only one clean sheet. Will this forgettable Arsenal record ever end?
Arsenal have a mountain to climb to reach Champions League football next season now – Arsenal currently sit 8 points behind 4th place Chelsea with only 9 games to play and unless the Gunners win pretty much every game it looks impossible to see Arsenal returning to the Champions League for the first time in four seasons.
Sam’s match reports 